Campanula plant named &#39;CHANTAL&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Campanula  plant named ‘Chantal’, characterized by its compact and upright plant habit; strong stems; freely flowering habit; light purple-colored flowers that have fused petal apices; and relatively long flowering period.

BOTANICAL DESIGNATION:

Campanula glomerata

CULTIVAR DENOMINATION

‘CHANTAL’

CROSS-REFERENCED TO CLOSELY-RELATED APPLICATION:

Title: Campanula Plant Named ‘Chico Lila’.

Applicant: Alexius Joannes Joseph van der Zwet

Filed: Concurrently with this application

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct Campanula plant,botanically known as Campanula glomerata and hereinafter referred to bythe cultivar name ‘Chantal’.

The new Campanula plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Oude-Wetering, The Netherlands. Theobjective of the breeding program is to create new freely-floweringCampanula plants that flower for a long period of time.

The new Campanula plant originated from an open-pollination during thesummer of 2007 of an unnamed selection of Campanula glomerata, notpatented, as the female, or seed, parent with an unknown selection ofCampanula glomerata, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Campanulaplant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single floweringplant from within the progeny of the stated open-pollination grown in acontrolled environment in Oude-Wetering, The Netherlands in June, 2009.

Asexual reproduction of the new Campanula plant by divisions acontrolled environment in Oude-Wetering, The Netherlands, since August,2009, has shown that the unique features of the new Campanula plant arestable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Campanula plant have not been observed under allpossible combinations of environmental conditions and culturalpractices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations inenvironmental conditions such as temperature and light intensitywithout, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Chantal’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Chantal’ as a new and distinct Campanula plant:

1. Compact and upright plant habit.

2. Strong stems.

3. Freely flowering habit.

4. Light purple-colored flowers that have fused petal apices.

5. Relatively long flowering period.

Plants of the new Campanula differ from plants of the female parentselection primarily in plant size as plants of the new Campanula aremore compact than plants of the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Campanula differ from plants of ‘Chico Lila’,disclosed in a U.S. Plant Patent application filed concurrently, in thefollowing characteristics:

1 Petals of flowers of plants of the new Campanula are fused at theapices whereas petals of flowers of plants of ‘Chico Lila’ are not fusedat the apices.

2. Plants of the new Campanula and ‘Chico Lila’ differ in flower coloras plants of ‘Chico Lila’ have lilac-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Campanula can be compared to plants of Campanulaglomerata ‘Emerald’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,343. Inside-by-side comparisons conducted by the Inventor in Oude-Wetering, TheNetherlands, plants of the new Campanula differed primarily from plantsof ‘Emerald’ in the following characteristics:

1. Plants of the new Campanula were more compact than plants of‘Emerald’.

2. Plants of the new Campanula had shorter and stronger stems thanplants of ‘Emerald’.

3. Petals of flowers of plants of the new Campanula were fused at theapices whereas petals of flowers of plants of ‘Emerald’ were not fusedat the apices.

4. Plants of the new Campanula and ‘Emerald’ differed in flower color asplants of ‘Emerald’ had light purple-colored flowers with darkerpurple-colored apices.

Plants of the new Campanula can also be compared to plants of Campanula‘Caroline’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted by theInventor in Oude-Wetering, The Netherlands, plants of the new Campanuladiffered primarily from plants of ‘Caroline’ in the followingcharacteristics:

1. Plants of the new Campanula were more compact than plants of‘Caroline’.

2. Plants of the new Campanula had shorter and stronger stems thanplants of ‘Caroline’.

3. Petals of flowers of plants of the new Campanula were fused at theapices whereas petals of flowers of plants of ‘Caroline’ were not fusedat the apices.

4. Plants of the new Campanula and ‘Caroline’ differed in flower coloras plants of ‘Caroline’ had pinkish purple-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Campanula plant showing the colors as true as it isreasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color valuescited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describethe actual colors of the new Campanula plant. The photograph on thefirst sheet is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of‘Chantal’ grown in a container. The photograph on the second sheet is aclose-up view of typical stems and leaves of ‘Chantal’. The photographon the third sheet is a close-up view of typical inflorescences of‘Chantal’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Plants used for the aforementioned photographs and following descriptionwere grown in 24-cm containers during the spring in a glass-coveredgreenhouse in Oude-Wetering, The Netherlands and under culturalpractices typical of commercial Campanula production. During theproduction of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 13° C. to 27° C.and night temperatures ranged from 5° C. to 18° C. Plants were one yearold when the photographs and description were taken. In the followingdescription, color references are made to The Royal HorticulturalSociety Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Campanula glomerata ‘Chantal’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—Unnamed selection of Campanula glomerata, not            patented.        -   Male parent.—Unknown selection of Campanula glomerata, not            patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By divisions.        -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; typically            white in color, actual color of the roots is dependent on            substrate composition, water quality, fertilizers, substrate            temperature and physiological age of roots.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Herbaceous perennial; compact and            upright plant form; inverted triangle; moderately vigorous            growth habit; campanulate flowers arranged in terminal and            axillary clusters.        -   Plant height.—About 41.3 cm.        -   Plant width.—About 28.6 cm.        -   Branch description.—Branching habit: Basal branching habit            with about four basal branches and numerous basal branches            developing per plant in subsequent years of growth. Length:            About 32.6 cm. Diameter: About 8 mm. Internode length: About            1.8 cm. Strength: Strong. Aspect: Upright to about 15° from            vertical. Texture: Densely pubescent. Luster: Slightly            glossy. Color: Close to 147D strongly tinged with close to            183C.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, simple.        -   Length.—About 7.8 cm.        -   Width.—About 3.4 cm.        -   Shape.—Ovate.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Truncate or cordate.        -   Margin.—Finely serrate.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Moderately rugose, rough;            moderately pubescent.        -   Luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Slightly glossy.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to between            137C and 138A. Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to            146B. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 137B;            venation, close to 143C. Fully expanded leaves, lower            surface: Close to 137D; venation, close to 147D.        -   Petioles.—Stem leaves are sessile; basal leaves are            petiolate. Length: About 7.4 cm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm.            Strength: Strong. Texture, upper and lower surfaces:            Pubescent. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 146C to            146D moderately tinged with close to 183D.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower arrangement and flowering habit.—Single campanulate            flowers arranged in terminal and axillary clusters; flowers            face mostly upright to slightly outwardly; freely flowering            habit with about 52 flowers developing in terminal clusters            and about eleven flowers developing in axillary clusters;            petals fused at the apex.        -   Natural flowering season.—Plants begin flowering about nine            months after planting; relatively long flowering period,            plants flower continuously from mid-June to early August in            The Netherlands.        -   Flower longevity on the plant.—About ten days; flowers            persistent.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 3 cm. Diameter: About 1.4 cm.            Shape: Narrowly oblong. Color: Proximally, close to 145D;            distally, close to between N77B and N77D.        -   Flower cluster height.—About 5.7 cm.        -   Flower cluster diameter.—About 7.6 cm.        -   Flower diameter.—About 2 cm.        -   Flower depth (height).—About 4.2 cm.        -   Petals.—Quantity and arrangement: Typically five in a single            whorl; fused toward the lower half of the petal and fused at            the apex. Length: About 4.1 cm. Width: About 1.1 cm. Shape:            Oblong to narrowly obovate; inverted carinate. Apex: Acute,            fused. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces:            Smooth, glabrous. Luster, upper and lower surfaces: Slightly            glossy. Color: When opening, upper surface: Close to 84D and            85D; towards the apex, close to 84B; at the apex, close to            146C. When opening, lower surface: Close to 84D; towards the            apex, close to 84C; at the apex, close to 146C. Fully            opened, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 84D; towards the            apex, close to 84C; at the apex, close to 146C; color does            not fade with development.        -   Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: Typically five in a single            whorl; fused towards the base. Length: About 1.8 cm. Width:            About 3 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Narrowly acute. Margin:            Entire. Texture, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous; at the            margins, moderately to densely pubescent. Texture, lower            surface: Moderately to densely pubescent. Luster, upper and            lower surfaces: Matte. Color: When opening, upper surface:            Close to 143B to 143C; towards the apex, close to N137A.            When opening, lower surface: Close to 143B; towards the            apex, close to N137A. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to            143B to 143C; towards the apex, close to N137A. Fully            opened, lower surface: Close to 143C; towards the apex,            close to N137A.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 2.2 cm. Diameter: About 6 mm.            Aspect, flowers in terminal clusters: Mostly upright.            Aspect, flowers in axillary clusters: About 30° from branch            axis. Strength: Strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color:            Close to 147D strongly tinged with close to 183C.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Five.            Filament length: About 2 mm. Filament color: Close to            NN155D. Anther shape: Lanceolate. Anther length: About 8 mm.            Anther color: Close to 13A. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen            color: Close to 4D. Pistils: Quantity per flower: One.            Pistil length: About 2.2 cm. Stigma shape: Three-parted,            decurrent. Stigma color: Close to 145A. Style length: About            2 cm. Style color: Close to 85B to 85C. Ovary color: Close            to 145A to 145B.        -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit production has not been            observed on plants of the new Campanula.-   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Campanula have not been    noted to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Campanula    plants.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Campanula have exhibited good    tolerance to rain and wind, to tolerate high temperatures about    35° C. and to be suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 3 through 8.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Campanula plant named ‘Chantal’ asillustrated and described.